Bath accessory assembly

ABSTRACT

A bath accessory assembly includes a bar and a seal. The bar includes at least one mounting surface having a groove and a plurality of tabs disposed about a sidewall of the groove. The seal is received within the groove of the mounting surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure generally relates to a bath accessory, and moreparticularly to a method of retaining a seal on a bath accessory.

Bathtubs and/or showers are typically surrounded by tub walls thatprovide an aesthetic surface capable of withstanding the relatively dampenvironment of the bathtub/shower. For example, some bathtubs mayinclude a tub surround that is positioned within a recess built around abathtub or shower. It is well known to provide a modular tub/shower unitthat includes a tub portion at the bottom and two or more wall portions.The tub surround is inserted into the wall recess to form a completelywaterproof surround. The fully enclosed waterproof structure is highlyadvantageous in that it prevents the escape of water into the wallcavity despite the shower spraying water onto the surrounding walls.Alternatively, the bathtub/shower may include tub walls covered withbath tiles or the like that prevent the escape of moisture into the wallcavity.

One problem with walls of these types is that of mounting a grab bar,assist bar, handrail or other bath accessory which must pierce the tubwall. Piercing the tub wall creates waterproofing difficulties and thepotential for damage to the aesthetic surface.

Grab bars are known that include mounting surfaces having a sealpositioned between the mounting surface and the tub wall. Typically, theseal is retained to the mounting surface of the bath accessory with anadhesive. Disadvantageously, adhesives are cumbersome to apply and mayweaken over time. A weakened adhesive may allow moisture to escapebetween the seal and the tub wall and damage the wall cavity.

In addition, known bath accessory seals are designed with pressuresensitive tape that is difficult to remove from the mounting surface ofthe bath accessory. The seal may cause contamination of the mountingsurface. Additional chemicals and/or energy may be required to removethe seal from the mounting surface prior to recycling the bath accessorycomponents.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved method of retainingand removing a seal relative to a mounting surface of a bath accessory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A bath accessory assembly includes a bar and a seal. The bar includes amounting surface having a groove and a plurality of tabs disposed abouta sidewall of the groove. The seal is received within the groove of themounting surface.

A bathtub assembly includes a tub wall, a bar mounted to the tub wall,and a seal. The bar includes at least one mounting surface having agroove and a plurality of tabs disposed about a sidewall of the groove.The seal is received within the groove of the mounting surface.

A method for retaining a seal on a bath accessory includes forming agroove within at least one mounting surface of the bath accessory,disposing a plurality of tabs on a sidewall of the groove, and receivinga seal within the groove of the mounting surface.

The various features and advantages of this disclosure will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can bebriefly described as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example bathtub assembly;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example bath accessory assembly that mounts to atub wall of the bathtub assembly illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A illustrates an example mounting surface of the bath accessoryassembly illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3B illustrates another example mounting surface;

FIG. 3C illustrates the retention of a seal to an example mountingsurface;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of an example bath accessoryassembly; and

FIG. 5 illustrates the retention of a seal to a mounting surface of theexample bath accessory assembly illustrated in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates a bathtub assembly 10 having a tub portion 12 and atleast one tub wall 14. In this example, the tub wall 14 is a portion ofa tub surround which may be formed of multiple molded portions that areinserted to surround the tub portion 12. In another example, the tubwall 14 includes bath tiling. A person of ordinary skill in the arthaving the benefit of this disclosure would understand that the tub wallcould include any type of surface. A shower head 16 directs water intothe bathtub assembly 10.

A bath accessory assembly 18 is mountable to one of the tub walls 14 ofthe bathtub assembly 10. Although the examples illustrated herein areshown and described with respect to mounting a bath accessory assembly18 to a tub wall 14 of a bathtub assembly 10, the bath accessoryassembly 18 is also mountable to any other surface, such as a wall of astandup shower, for example. In one example, the bath accessory assembly18 is a grab bar. In another example, the bath accessory assembly 18 isan assist bar, towel bar, handrail, or the like.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example bath accessory assembly 18 that ismountable within a bathtub assembly 10. The bath accessory assembly 18includes a bar 20 and seals 38. It should be understood that the term“bar” as used herein may include any round, non-round, or any othershaped bars and components. That is, the bath accessory assembly 18 mayinclude any design, size and shape.

The bar 20 includes mounting surfaces 22 for mounting the bath accessoryassembly to a tub wall 14. In one example, the bar 20 and the mountingsurfaces 22 are plastic pieces that are integrally molded as a singlepiece assembly. In another example, the bar 20 and the mounting surfaces22 are separate pieces that may be connected to assemble the bathaccessory assembly 18.

In this example, the bar 20 includes two mounting surfaces 22 positionedat opposite ends 19, 21 of the bar 20. However, the bar 20 may include amultitude of mounting surfaces 22 for mounting the bath accessoryassembly 18 relative to a tub wall 14 of the bathtub assembly 10. Eachmounting surface 22 includes an associated seal 38 for sealing themounting surface 22 relative to the tub wall 14. Fasteners 24 areutilized to securely mount the bath accessory assembly 18 relative toholes 11 within the tub wall 14.

FIG. 3A illustrates an example mounting surface 22 of the bar 20. Themounting surface 22 includes an inner flange 26 and an outer flange 28.A groove 30 is disposed between the inner flange 26 and the outer flange28. In this example, the mounting surface 22 includes an oval shape.However, it should be understood that the mounting surface 22 mayinclude any shaped surface. The inner flange 26 and the groove 30 aregenerally round shaped, in this example.

The groove 30 includes an inner sidewall 32 and an outer sidewall 34that is positioned radially outward relative to the inner sidewall 32. Aplurality of tabs 36 are annularly disposed about the inner sidewall 32of the groove 30, in one example. The tabs 36 protrude from the innersidewall 32 in a direction toward the outer sidewall 34. In anotherexample, the tabs 36 protrude inwardly from the outer sidewall 34 in adirection toward the inner sidewall 32 (See FIG. 3B).

In this example, the mounting surface 22 includes four tabs 36 disposedover a range of 360°. However, the sidewall 32 of the groove 30 mayinclude any number of tabs 36. The tabs 36 receive and secure the seal38 within the groove 30, as is further discussed below.

In the illustrated example, the tabs 36 are generally half-moon shaped.However, the tabs 36 may include any design and shape adequate to retainthe seal 38 within the groove 30. The tabs 36 protrude toward the outersidewall 34 to reduce the cross-sectional area of the groove 30, in oneexample. In another example, the tabs 36 protrude toward the innersidewall 32 to reduce the cross-sectional area of the groove 30.

The tabs 36 are integrally molded with one of the side walls 32, 34, forexample. However, in another example, the tabs 36 are formed bythermally or mechanically deforming the material of one of the innerflange 26 and the outer flange 28. A deformation 50 is formed in themounting surface 22 to form the tabs 36 as a result of the thermal ormechanical deformation (See FIG. 3C). The deformation 50 sandwiches theseal 38 within the groove 30.

Referring to FIG. 4, the seal 38 is received over the plurality of tabs36 and into the groove 30 to assemble the bath accessory assembly 18. Inone example, the seal 38 is positioned within the groove 30 in aninterference fit. Once assembled, the bath accessory assembly 18 may bemounted to a tub wall 14, for example, to substantially reduce the riskof moisture escaping behind the tub wall 14.

The groove 30 is formed to a depth DP such that a midpoint M of the seal38 rests below the outer surface 40 of the mounting surface 22 (See FIG.5). This ensures adequate retention of the seal 38 within the groove 30.Advantageously, no adhesive is required to retain the seal 38 within thegroove 30 of the mounting surface 22. The seal 38 is also selectivelyremovable from the mounting surface 22 to recycle the components of thebath accessory assembly 18 more easily.

The foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin any limiting sense. A worker of ordinary skill in the art having thebenefit of this disclosure would recognize that certain modificationswould come within the scope of this disclosure. For these reasons, thefollowing claims should be studied to determine the true scope andcontent of the disclosure.

1. A bath accessory assembly, comprising: a bar having at least onemounting surface that includes a groove and a plurality of tabs disposedabout a side wall of said groove; and a seal received within saidgroove.
 2. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said bar is agrab bar.
 3. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said barincludes at least two mounting surfaces positioned on opposite ends ofsaid bar.
 4. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said at leastone mounting surface includes an inner flange and an outer flange, andsaid groove is disposed between said inner flange and said outer flange.5. The assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein said side wall is aninner side wall of said groove.
 6. The assembly as recited in claim 1,wherein said groove is generally round shaped.
 7. The assembly asrecited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of tabs are disposed aboutsaid side wall of said groove over a range of 360 degrees.
 8. Theassembly as recited in claim 1, wherein a mid-point of said seal sitsbelow said mounting surface where said seal is received within saidgroove.
 9. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said seal is ano-ring.
 10. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said seal isreceived over said plurality of tabs and within said groove to create afriction fit.
 11. A bathtub assembly, comprising: a tub wall; a barmounted to said tub wall and having at least one mounting surface thatincludes a groove and a plurality of tabs disposed about a side wall ofsaid groove; and a seal received within said groove.
 12. The assembly asrecited in claim 11, wherein said tub wall is a portion of a tubsurround.
 13. The assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein saidplurality of tabs are disposed about said side wall of said groove overa range of 360 degrees.
 14. The assembly as recited in claim 11, whereinsaid seal is an o-ring.
 15. A method for retaining a seal on a bathaccessory, comprising the steps of: a) forming a groove within at leastone mounting surface of the bath accessory; b) disposing a plurality oftabs on a side wall of the groove; and c) receiving a seal within thegroove.
 16. The method as recited in claim 15, comprising the step of:d) mounting the bath accessory to a tub wall of a bathtub.
 17. Themethod as recited in claim 15, wherein said bath accessory is a grabbar.
 18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the groove isgenerally round shaped.
 19. The method as recited in claim 15, whereinsaid step b) includes the step of: forming the plurality of tabsintegrally with the side wall; and equidistantly spacing the pluralityof tabs over a range of 360 degrees.
 20. The method as recited in claim15, wherein said step c) includes the step of: receiving the seal overthe plurality of tabs and within the groove in an interference fit.